Cable splicer tool

ABSTRACT

A cable splicer tool particularly adapted for splicing the conductor pairs of telephone trunk cables. A fluid operated power cylinder and piston rod work a toggle linkage mechanism to actuate a pivoted hammer which coacts with a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved. The feed table includes an anvil portion, with the anvil mounted for limited resilient movement. A cutter blade is mounted on the hammer to cooperate with the anvil portion to sever taped connectors on the hammer crimping stroke. A fluid operated feed cylinder and piston rod reciprocate a connector feed pawl, with the feed cylinder and above-mentioned power cylinder connected to a common fluid supply source such that the feed pawl moves in its return stroke direction when the power piston rod is extended on its crimping stroke. Damping means are provided to slow down the movement of the feed pawl during the feed stroke of the feed cylinder piston rod. A feed retainer pawl holds the connector next to be crimped against rearward movement as the feed pawl moves on its return stroke.

United States Patent [721 lnvcntor Van Z. Smith Mineral Wells, Tex. [21] Appl. No. 746,510 [22] Filed July 22, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee All Products Company Mineral Wells, Tex.

[54] CABLE SPLICER TOOL 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 140/105. 29/203z72/417; 140/113 [51] 1nt.Cl B21t15/00 [50] Field of Search 72/412, 417.451; 140/105, 1 13; 29/203 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.765.468 10/ 1956 Cootes et a1. 29/203 3,386,153 6/1968 Lau et al 29/203 72/451 3,393,438 7/1968 Marleyetal Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Att0rney-WoFford and Felsman ABSTRACT: A cable splicer tool particularly adapted for splicing the conductor pairs of telephone trunk cables. A fluid operated power cylinder and piston rod work a toggle linkage mechanism to actuate a pivoted hammer which coacts with a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved. The feed table includes-an anvil portion, with the anvil mounted for limited resilient movement. A cutter blade is mounted on the hammer to cooperate with the anvil portion to sever taped connectors on the hammer crimping stroke. A fluid operated feed cylinder and piston rod reciprocate a connector feed pawl, with the feed cylinder and above-mentioned power cylinder connected to a common fluid supply source such that the feed pawl moves in its return stroke direction when the power piston rod is extended on its crimping stroke. Damping means are provided to slow down the movement of the feed pawl during the feed stroke of the feed cylinder piston rod. A feed retainer pawl holds the connector next to be crimped against rearward movement as the feed pawl moves on its return stroke.

CABLE SPLICER TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Telephone cables used for trunk lines often contain hundreds of conductor pairs. It is frequently necessary to splice such cables. Until recently such splicing has been done manually, with hand tools, which was a difficult, tedious and slow procedure. There has been recently developed apparatus for splicing such cables, wherein connectors are fed to a powered portable cable splicer tool having a feed mechanism and a crimping mechanism such that an operator inserts the pair to be spliced into the respective connector and then actuates the power mechanism which causes the apparatus to automatically crimp the connector, advance the feed, and eject the crimped connector. The present invention involves improvements in powered portable cable splicer tools of the said recently developed type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the cable splicer tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view showing the cable splicer tool in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the front side plate removed, and with the piston rod of the power cylinder in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cable splicer tool of FIG. 2, with part of the front side plate cut away, showing the piston rod of the power cylinder in the extended or crimping position;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken at lines lV-IV of FIG. 2;

and FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a portion of the power cylinder, the toggle mechanism, the

hammer, the feed mechanism, and feed cylinder parts of the cable splicer tool of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, the cable splicer tool, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a housing having a front side plate 1 1, a rear side plate 13, a top closure 15, a bottom closure 17, a forward or feed end closure 19, and an opposite end closure 21.

A feed table 23 having the general form of a rectangular block has sides abutting the inner surfaces of the side plates 11, 13 and is fixed between same, being disposed so that its bottom forms a portion of the housing bottom closure 17 and its forward face is in the plane of the outer face of the forward end closure 19.

A hammer 25 has a head portion 27 with a surface 29 for cooperating with the feed table crimping anvil portion 31 and an arm member 33. The arm member 33 has the form of a rectangular plate with spaced pivot legs 35 depending from the outer end portion thereof. Pins 37 on the pivot legs are received by openings in the side plates 11, 13 located at the lower central regions thereof, so that the arm member 33 is mounted for pivoting movement about a first axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to the feed table 23. Spaced bosses 39 extend upwardly at the head end of the hammer 25 and fonn journals for a pivot pin 41 A fluid operated power cylinder 43 has a piston reciprocable within it, with a piston rod 45 extending from the cylinder. The piston is preferably of the double-acting type. A boss 47 extends rearwardly from the closed end of the cylinder 43 and forms a journal for a pivot pin 49 which in turn is received at its ends by respective journal openings in the side plates 11, 13 located at the lower right region thereof as viewed in FIG. 2. Thus, the power cylinder 43 is mounted for pivoting movement about a second axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to the feed table 23.

A toggle mechanism 51 has a first link 53 and a second link. The first link 53 is in the form of a plate 55 having a first pair of spaced bosses 57 extending upwardly therefrom (see FIG.

5) and a second pair of spaced bosses 57 form journals for an eccentric pivot pin 61 and the second pair of bosses 59 from journals for a pivot pin 63. The end portions of the eccentric pivot pin 61 are received by journals openings in the side plates l1, 13, located at the upper left region thereof (as viewed in FIG. 2) so that one end of the first link 53 is mounted for pivoting movement about a third axis disposed above the hammer head portion 27 parallel to the second axis and fixed relative to the feed table 23.

The second link 65 of the toggle mechanism 51 has parallel side faces sized to fit between the spaced bosses 39 of the hammer 25 and the depending spaced bosses 59 of the first link 53. The second link 65 has a first bore at one end portion disposed and sized to receive the pivot pin 41 and pivotally connect the second link 65 to the hammer 25. Thus the second link 65 is mounted at one end for pivoting movement about a fourth axis which is disposed parallel to the third axis above-mentioned and fixed relative to the hammer head portion 27. The second link 65 has a second bore spaced from the first bore and disposed and sized to receive the pivot pin 63. Thus, the first and second links 53, 65 are connected for pivoting movement about a fifth axis which is movable and parallel to the third axis above-mentioned. The second link 65 has a lever arm portion 67 which extends outwardly beyond the fifth axis on the side opposite the fourth axis. The lever arm portion 67 has a bore at its outer end region which is disposed and sized to receive a pivot pin 69. A bifurcated yoke 71 is fixed to the outer end portion of the power piston rod 45. The yoke 71 is sized to straddle the lever arm portion 67 of the second link 65 and has bores for receiving the pivot pin 69. Thus, the lever ar'm portion 67 is connected to the free end portion of the power piston rod 45 for pivoting movement about a sixth axis which is movable and parallel to the third axis above-mentioned.

The eccentric pivot pin 61 has a bifurcated yoke 73 fixed to its central region and extending outwardly therefrom between the bosses 57. A compression spring 75 is held in place by an adjusting screw 77. The screw77 is received by the yoke 73, passes through the spring 75 and is threaded at its lower end onto the portion of the first link 53 which extends outwardly from the bosses 57. The spring 75 bears at one end on the yoke 77 and at the other end on the first link 53.

The connector feed mechanism include a fluid operated feed cylinder 79, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a feed piston rod 81 extending from the cylinder 79, and a feed pawl 83. The piston is preferably of the double-acting type. The feed cylinder 79 has a bore 85 extending transversely of the cylinder axis in a region disposed outwardly beyond the cylinder closed end. A pivot pin 87 is received by the bore 85 and is journaled in the side plates l 1,13 at their lower regions and about midway between the first and second axis, so that the feed cylinder 79 is mounted at its closed end portion for pivoting movement about an axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to the feed table 23.

The feed pawl 83 is in the form of a flat strip of material forming spaced parallel arms 89 bridged at one end by a base portion 91. The pawl 83 is fixed at the base portion 91 to the free end of the feed piston rod 81 by means of a bolt 93. The pawl arms 89 are notched as at 95 on their undersides so as to engage connectors and hold them in the proper position for feeding. The pawl arms 89 also have cam portions 97 so they will move easily over connectors on the return stroke. A spring clip member 99 is fixed to the feed table by means of legs 101 which straddle the pawl, and has a bridge portion 103 which slidably engages the upper surfaces of the pawl arms 89 so as to exert a spring bias force downwardly on same.

A feed retainer pawl 105 has spaced parallel side arms 107 held in upright position by an integral top bridge portion 109. The arms 107 are pivoted at their left end portions (as viewed in FIG. 2) on a pin 111 which is received by journals in the side plates 11, 13 disposed at the left end of the housing immediately above the housing connector feed opening 113. The

arms I07 are notched on their undersides at 115 so as to bear against the top and rearward (relative to feed travel direction) connector surface portions so as to prevent rearward movement of the connector next to be fed as the feed pawl 83 moves on its return stroke. The arms 107 also have a cam surface 117 to permit the feed retainer pawl 105 to ride easily up over connectors being moved in the feed direction. A bias spring I19 exerts a clockwise force on the feed retainer pawl 105 to urge it toward contact with the connectors The cable splicer tool in the embodiment shown in particularly adapted for handling connectors of the type known in the telephone communication s industry (particularly Bell Telephone Company) as B wire connectors." In the embodiment shown. these B wire connectors are disposed in spaced pairs 121 on a web or tape 123. The connectors of each pair are crimped simultaneously.

The feed table 23 has an integral connector guide stop portion in the form of a fence 125 having a surface 127 disposed normal to the feed table feed surface and parallel to the line of connector travel. The feed table 23 has an integral connector guide stop portion in the form of a fence 125 having a surface 127 disposed normal to the feed table feed surface and parallel to the line of connector travel.

The feed table 23 also has a cutter anvil portion disposed in the line of connector feed immediately rearwardly of the connector crimp position. The cutter anvil 129 is disposed in a slot in the feed table and is supported therein by spring means 131 for limited resilient movement in the direction normal to the feed table surface. A cutter blade 133 is mounted on the hammer on the lower rearward side of the head portion 27 and disposed transversely of the line of connector feed, so that the tape 123 of taped connectors will be severed on the hammer crimping stroke.

The feed table also has a slot 135 having a tapered bottom and disposed in the line of connector feed travel immediately forward (relative to connector feed direction) of the hammer head portion 27, so that the pressure of the feed pawl 83 on connectors that have been crimped and severed will be relieved and the crimped connectors will eject.

As previously mentioned, the pistons of the power and feed cylinders 43, 79 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention are of the double-acting type. Fluid under suitable pressure from a source (not shown) is supplied to a conventional control valve (not shown) and from the control valve to cable splicer tool via first and second conduits 137, 139. The first conduit branches to two conduits which are connected in parallel, one to the power stroke end of the power cylinder 43 and the other to the return stroke end of the feed cylinder 79. The second conduit 139 branches to two conduits which are also connected in parallel, one to the return stroke end of the power cylinder 43 and one to the feed stroke end of the feed cylinder 79. Thus, the feed pawl 83 will move in its return direction as the power piston rod 45 is extended on its crimping stroke, and vice versa. An adjustable orifice valve 141 is interposed in the branch of the second conduit 139 which leads to the feed stroke end of the feed cylinder 79. This orifice valve 141 acts as a damping means to slow down the movement of the connector feed pawl 83 during the feed stroke of the feed cylinder piston rod 81.

Locator pins 143 on the side surfaces of the feed table engage recesses in the side plates to assure proper alignment of the feed table parts relative to the toggle mechanism, hammer, feed mechanism, power cylinder, and feed cylinder. in operation of the cable splicer tool, asume that the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 2 so that the power cylinder piston rod 45 is retracted, the hammer head portion 27 and cutter blade 133 are raised to their out-of-play positions, the feed cylinder piston rod 81 is retracted so that the forward notches of the feed pawl arms 89 have properly positioned the connector pair to be crimped under the hammer head portion 27, and the notches 115 of the feed retainer pawl are in contact with and holding the connector pair next to be crimped against rearward movement (relative to connector feed direction).

The operator now inserts the two end portions of each conductor of the cable pair to be spliced into the respective conductor receiving cavity of the connectors of the pair under the hammer head portion 27 and then actuates the control valve, which connects the first conduit 137 to the fluid supply and the second conduit 139 to an exhaust port. The power cylinder piston rod 45 will now move toward its extended position, rotating the toggle mechanism second link 65 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2) about the fourth pivot axis, causing the hammer head portion 27 to be moved downwardly into crimping contact with the pertinent connector pair. Simultaneously, the cutter blade 133 moves into contact with the feed table cutter anvil portion 129, severing the tape 123 between the connector pair being crimped and the connector pair next to be crimped. When the power cylinder piston rod 45 has reached the limit of its travel on the power stroke, the toggle mechanism will have moved the hammer head portion 27 relative to the feed table crimping anvil portion 31 the precise amount necessary to achieve proper crimping of the pertinent connector pair. The distance between the hammer head portion 27 and table feed crimping anvil portion 31 at the end of the power stroke is periodically gauged, and the eccentric pin 61 is rotated (by means of adjusting screw 77) as necessary to position the third axis so that the proper crimping stroke will be achieved.

As the power cylinder piston rod 45 extends, the feed cylinder piston rod 81 also extends, causing the feed pawl 83 to cam itself upwardly over the connector pair about to be crimped ant the connector pair next to be crimped and to the position shown in FIG. 3. During this action, the retainer pawl prevents rearward movement of the connector pairs.

Next, the operator again actuates the control valve, whereupon the second conduit 139 is connected to the fluid supply and the first conduit 137 to an exhaust port. The power cylinder piston rod 45 will now move toward its retracted position, rotating the toggle mechanism second link 65 clockwise about the fourth pivot axis, causing the hammer head portion 27 to be moved upwardly toward the out-of-play position and back to the position shown by FIG. 2.

As soon as the hammer head pressure on the crimped connector is released, the feed cylinder piston rod 81 will move toward its retracted position for its feed stroke, moving the feed pawl 83 which pulls the connector next to be crimped into position under the hammer head portion 27 (the position shown by FIG 2). The cam surfaces 117 of the retainer pawl 105 permit the retainer pawl to be raised up over the connector pair next to be retained. During the feed stroke of the feed pawl 83 the movement of the feed cylinder piston rod 81 is slowed by the damping means (orifice valve 141) so that the connectors will be moved to their next position smoothly and without malfunction. I

The operator then inserts the end portions of the next conductor pairs to be spliced into the respective conductor receiving cavities, and the operation is repeated.

In the embodiment shown, the connectors to be crimped are fed from a web or tape upon which they are disposed in spaced pairs. It should be apparent that other types of connector feeds, as for example, bulk feed, may be used within the scope of the present invention. Also, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the powered hammer actuator means and the connector feed mechanism actuator means are fluid powered cylinders. However, the use of electrically powered solenoid devices is within the scope of the present invention.

While I have shown my invention in only one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof I claim:

1. A cable splicer tool comprising:

a. a feed table ori which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion;

b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors, and an arm member;

c. means mounting said arm member for pivoting movement at its free end portion about a first axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of the connectors and fixed relative to said feed table;

d. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder. a piston rod extending from said cylinder;

e. means mounting said power cylinder at the closed end portion thereof for pivoting movement about a second axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to said table;

f. a toggle mechanism having a first link and a second link;

g. means mounting said first link at one end for pivoting movement about a third axis disposed above said hammer head portion parallel to said second axis and fixed relative to said table;

h. means mounting said second link at one end for pivoting movement about a fourth axis which is disposed parallel to said third axis above said hammer head portion and fixed relative to said hammer head portion;

i. means connecting the other ends of said links for pivoting movement about a fifth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis;

j. a lever arrn integral with said second link and extending outwardly beyond said fifth axis on the side opposite said fourth axis; and

it. means connecting said lever arm at its free end portion to the free end portion of said piston rod for pivoting movement about a sixth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis.

2. The cable splicer apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said connectors to be crimped are contained on a tape and said feed table includes a cutter anvil portion disposed in the line of connector feed immediately rearwardly of the connector crimp position, with said cutter anvil portion mounted for limited resilient movement in the direction normal to the feed table surface, and a cutter blade mounted on said hammer and disposed transversely of the line of connector feed, so that the tape of the taped connectors will be severed on the crimping stroke of said hammer.

3. A cable splicer tool comprising:

a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion;

b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors;

c. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a power piston rod extending from said cylinder;

d. means operatively connecting said piston rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said piston is moved to a first position and away from said table when said piston is moved to a second position;

e. a connector feed pawl mounted for reciprocable movement on said table in the connector feed direction;

f. a fluid operated feed cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a feed piston rod extending from said cylinder;

g. means operatively connecting said feed piston rod to said pawl; and

h. means connecting said power cylinder and said feed cylinder in inverse and parallel relationship to a common fluid supply source such that said pawl is moved in its respective return stroke and feed stroke directions simultaneously and inversely as said power piston rod is extended on its respective crimping stroke and return stroke.

A cable splicer tool comprising:

a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion;

b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors;

. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a power piston rod extending from said cylinder;

d. means operatively connecting said piston rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said piston is moved to a first position and away from said table when said piston is moved to a second position;

. a connector feed pawl mounted for reciprocable movement on said table in the connector feed direction;

f. a fluid operated feed cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a feed piston rod extending from said cylinder;

g. means operatively connecting said feed piston rod to said pawl;

h. means connecting said power cylinder and said feed cylinder to a common fluid supply source such that said pawl moves in its return stroke direction as said power piston rod is extended on its crimping stroke; and

. damping means interposed in association with said connector feed pawl so as to slow down the movement of said connector feed pawl during the feed stroke of said feed cylinder.

A cable splicer tool comprising:

a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion;

. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors, and an arm member;

. means mounting said arm member for pivoting movement at its free end portion about a first axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of the connectors and fixed rela tive to said feed table;

a powered hammer actuator means including a body and an actuator rod;

e. means mounting said body at one end portion thereof for pivoting movement about a second axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to said table;

f. a toggle mechanism having a first link and a second link;

g. means mounting said first link at one end for pivoting movement about a third axis disposed above said hammer head portion parallel to said second axis and fixed relative to said table; 7

h. means mounting said second link at one end for pivoting movement about a fourth axis which is disposed parallel to said third axis above said hammer head portion and fixed relative to said hammer head portion;

i. means connecting the other ends of said links for pivoting movement about a fifth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis;

j. a lever arm integral with said second link and extending outwardly beyond said fifth axis on the side opposite said fourth axis; and

k. means connecting said lever arm at its free end portion to the free end portion of said actuator rod for pivoting movement about a sixth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis.

6. The cable splicer apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein said connectors to be crimped are contained on a tape and said feed table includes a cutter anvil portion disposed in the line of connector feed immediately rearwardly of the connector crimp position, with said cutter anvil portion mounted for limited resilient movement in the direction normal to the feed table surface, and a cutter blade mounted on said hammer and disposed transversely of the line of connector feed, so that the tape of the taped connectors will be severed on the crimping stroke of said hammer.

7. A cable splicer tool comprising:

a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion;

b. a hammer having a head portion with surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors;

c. a powered hammer actuator means including a body and an actuator rod;

d. means operatively connecting said actuator rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said actuator rod is moved toward its extended position;

said feed actuator means in parallel and in inverse relationship to a common power source such that said pawl is moved in its respective return stroke and feed stroke directions simultaneously and inversely as said hammer actuator rod is extended on its respective crimping stroke and return stroke. 

1. A cable splicer tool comprising: a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion; b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors, and an arm member; c. means mounting said arm member for pivoting movement at its free end portion about a first axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of the connectors and fixed relative to said feed table; d. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a piston rod extending from said cylinder; e. means mounting said power cylinder at the closed end portion thereof for pivoting movement about a second axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to said table; f. a toggle mechanism having a first link and a second link; g. means mounting said first link at one end for pivoting movement about a third axis disposed above said hammer head portion parallel to said second axis and fixed relative to said table; h. means mounting said second link at one end for pivoting movement about a fourth axis which is disposed parallel to said third axis above said hammer head portion and fixed relative to said hammer head portion; i. means connecting the other ends of said links for pivoting movement about a fifth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis; j. a lever arm integral with said second link and extending outwardly beyond said fifth axis on the side opposite said fourth axis; and k. means connecting said lever arm at its free end portion to the free end portion of said piston rod for pivoting movement about a sixth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis.
 2. The cable splicer apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said connectors to be crimped are contained on a tape and said feed table includes a cutter anvil portion disposed in the line of connector feed immediateLy rearwardly of the connector crimp position, with said cutter anvil portion mounted for limited resilient movement in the direction normal to the feed table surface, and a cutter blade mounted on said hammer and disposed transversely of the line of connector feed, so that the tape of the taped connectors will be severed on the crimping stroke of said hammer.
 3. A cable splicer tool comprising: a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion; b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors; c. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a power piston rod extending from said cylinder; d. means operatively connecting said piston rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said piston is moved to a first position and away from said table when said piston is moved to a second position; e. a connector feed pawl mounted for reciprocable movement on said table in the connector feed direction; f. a fluid operated feed cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a feed piston rod extending from said cylinder; g. means operatively connecting said feed piston rod to said pawl; and h. means connecting said power cylinder and said feed cylinder in inverse and parallel relationship to a common fluid supply source such that said pawl is moved in its respective return stroke and feed stroke directions simultaneously and inversely as said power piston rod is extended on its respective crimping stroke and return stroke.
 4. A cable splicer tool comprising: a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion; b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors; c. a fluid operated power cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a power piston rod extending from said cylinder; d. means operatively connecting said piston rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said piston is moved to a first position and away from said table when said piston is moved to a second position; e. a connector feed pawl mounted for reciprocable movement on said table in the connector feed direction; f. a fluid operated feed cylinder, a piston reciprocable within the cylinder, a feed piston rod extending from said cylinder; g. means operatively connecting said feed piston rod to said pawl; h. means connecting said power cylinder and said feed cylinder to a common fluid supply source such that said pawl moves in its return stroke direction as said power piston rod is extended on its crimping stroke; and i. damping means interposed in association with said connector feed pawl so as to slow down the movement of said connector feed pawl during the feed stroke of said feed cylinder.
 5. A cable splicer tool comprising: a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion; b. a hammer having a head portion with a surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors, and an arm member; c. means mounting said arm member for pivoting movement at its free end portion about a first axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of the connectors and fixed relative to said feed table; d. a powered hammer actuator means including a body and an actuator rod; e. means mounting said body at one end portion thereof for pivoting movement about a second axis disposed transversely of the line of travel of connector feed and fixed relative to said table; f. a toggle mechanism having a first link and a second link; g. means mounting said first link at one end for pivoting movement about a third axis disposed above said hammer head portion parallel to said second axis and fixed relative to said table; h. means mouNting said second link at one end for pivoting movement about a fourth axis which is disposed parallel to said third axis above said hammer head portion and fixed relative to said hammer head portion; i. means connecting the other ends of said links for pivoting movement about a fifth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis; j. a lever arm integral with said second link and extending outwardly beyond said fifth axis on the side opposite said fourth axis; and k. means connecting said lever arm at its free end portion to the free end portion of said actuator rod for pivoting movement about a sixth axis which is movable and parallel to said third axis.
 6. The cable splicer apparatus as defined by claim 5, wherein said connectors to be crimped are contained on a tape and said feed table includes a cutter anvil portion disposed in the line of connector feed immediately rearwardly of the connector crimp position, with said cutter anvil portion mounted for limited resilient movement in the direction normal to the feed table surface, and a cutter blade mounted on said hammer and disposed transversely of the line of connector feed, so that the tape of the taped connectors will be severed on the crimping stroke of said hammer.
 7. A cable splicer tool comprising: a. a feed table on which connectors to be crimped are moved and including a crimping anvil portion; b. a hammer having a head portion with surface cooperating with said crimping anvil portion to crimp connectors; c. a powered hammer actuator means including a body and an actuator rod; d. means operatively connecting said actuator rod to move said hammer toward said table to crimp a connector when said actuator rod is moved toward its extended position; e. a connector feed pawl mounted for reciprocable movement on said table in the connector feed direction; f. powered feed actuating means including a body and an actuator rod; f. means operatively connecting said feed actuator rod to said pawl; and h. the means connecting said hammer actuator means and said feed actuator means in parallel and in inverse relationship to a common power source such that said pawl is moved in its respective return stroke and feed stroke directions simultaneously and inversely as said hammer actuator rod is extended on its respective crimping stroke and return stroke. 